Moderator Tom Baird, left, greets crowd at Bay County Child and Senior Center on hand for the first of two candidates' forums.

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South End Political Forum Attracts 10 Candidates, About 100 Spectators

Republican Senate Hopeful Announces Withdrawal from the Race

June 23, 2010
By: Dave Rogers

Rivals for the Democratic nomination for state representative Charles Brunner, left, and Brian Elder, applaud forum organizers.
(MyBayCity Photo by Dave Rogers)

Moderator Tom Baird, chair of the South End Citizens District Council (CDC), gives a good party.

Participants Wednesday night included 10 candidates for offices from Congress to the State House and about 100 interested spectators.

Applause was copious for both Mr. Baird and for Peggy Watson, who operates the South End Senior Center where the forum was held. Megan Trask, of the South End CDC, served as timekeeper.

One candidate who announced he was no longer seeking the seat for which he had filed was Gary Hadden, of Bay City, who said he was deferring to Mike Green, former state representative, of Mayville. Hadden's withdrawal leaves three remaining hopefuls for the GOP nomination in the 31st State Senate District.

Jeff Mayes, Bay City, three term state representative in the 96th District, is the lone Democratic candidate seeking to replace retiring State Senator Jim Barcia Mr. Mayes is term-limited as state representative, as is Sen. Barcia in his seat.

Only Dennis Poirier, Republican hopeful for the 96th State Representative seat, and U.S. Rep. Dale F. Kildee, Democrat incumbent, were not on hand for the forum. Poirier, a former Bay County commissioner and retired school administrator, has no GOP opposition and long-serving Kildee, who had a prior commitment, sent a prepared statement.

Scott Withers Jr., of Vassar, said he was "the most hated man in the district" for opposing Kildee in the Democratic primary for Congress. He claimed the chair of the Michigan Democratic Party telephoned him after he filed against Kildee and asked him to withdraw. Withers said he told the caller "which lake to jump in."

Each candidate gave two minute opening statements and then answered questions that came from the audience during the two and a half hour forum.

Other candidates on hand included Rick Wilson and John Kupiec, both of Grand Blanc, candidates for the Republican nomination in the 5th Congressional District; Charles Brunner and Brian Elder, candidates in the Democratic primary for the 96th State House seat; Paul Mezo, of Sandusky, and Robert Palmer, of Bay City, rivals for the GOP nomination in the 31st State Senate District.

Candidates for district and circuit court judicial races in Bay County are on tap Thursday night in a similar forum slated to begin at 7 p.m. in the same location.

Crowd listens to 10 candidates' opening statements at forum in Bay City's South End.
(MyBayCity Photo by Dave Rogers) ###